Marriotts Ridge High School

Howard County saw two teams make championship appearances and three win their region this season. Glenelg and Reservoir powered their way to have a chance at a title. Howard made it to the state bracket. Here are CSZ’s awards for the best of the county this season: Team of the Year - Reservoir Gators Reservoir tied for the best regular-season record at 16-4 and won a county-high five playoff games. The Gators hit the ground running in December, winning all six of their games and keeping opponents under 40 points in four of them. Their seven-game win streak to open the year showcased that this year’s team would not take a step back, leading the county once again. A January lull, which had a 1-4 stretch for the Gators, proved to be the outlier in the year. Reservoir returned to its winning ways in February and carried that momentum for the rest of the season. Since the start of February, they won 12 straight games, including the playoffs, before the championship against the Poly Engineers. A 57-34 loss to that Poly team ended the playoff run, but Reservoir still managed to defy expectations by remaining at the top of the county. Coach Deb Taylor reflected on what she and her players accomplished this season. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t think we would win as many games as we did…We graduated 2 all-county players and people thought we would be down. Instead, we won our first county championship and made school history,” Coach Taylor said. Most Improved Team - Glenelg Gladiators Glenelg boosted its record by six regular-season wins and eight total this year, turning the page after finishing under .500 in 2025. The Gladiators built early momentum and sustained it this year. They won their first five games of the season with a key one early against a talented Mt. Hebron team. In CSZ’s preseason power rankings, we placed Glenelg seventh with concerns about the team’s defense. The 2025 team had a 3-9 record when the defense allowed more than 40 points. The Gladiators allowed 40 points in the same number of games this season, but showed the offensive grit to overcome it. Glenelg improved by three wins in the stat to have a 6-6 record in those games, including the playoffs. Their playoff journey featured four blowout wins, taking down Southern, Wilde Lake, Frederick Douglass and Williamsport. The dominance carried into the start of the championship game, but Glenelg got outlasted by Manchester Valley, who won its first championship in the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFxjks-47pk 🏀🏀 ROAD TO UMBC MPSSAA 3A BOYS STATE QUARTERFINAL 
 🆚 Frederick vs Marriotts Ridge
 📍Marriotts Ridge HS, Marriottsville, Maryland 📝 Kmillz (MFVAllSportsNetwork) MFV arrived to what looked like to be a sold out Mustangs arena at Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville, Maryland. (SHOUTS to CSZScores, as I met their student ambassador. Hope you are successful in your new opportunities on the rise!!!) The cheerleaders for Frederick traveled down to support their Cadets joining alonside a big crowd of Cadets’s fans. BUT, the Mustang fans packed out the house as well. The Marriotts Ridge Student section arrayed in American colors as their theme for the night. It looked like a never ending cycle as the Ridge staff directed numbers of them over to the student section. What I didn’t expect was the intense and loud atmosphere on the horizon. The Cadets team came out clapping and showing they were ready to play 32 minutes of basketball. Mustangs had a cool vibe and the team was rocking some old school warm up uniforms. They looked completely focused and locked in. A huge battled was brewing in the midst of a western Howard County high school. 1ST HALF - The beginning quarter was a knock down drag out fight for some points to get on the board. Both teams displayed excellent defense, causing their offenses to really struggle getting open lanes to drive the ball closer inside for points. By the second quarter things started to pick up as the Mustangs held a fair lead of 7 going in to the half, 23-16. 2ND HALF - The Cadets began to fight back pulling the score between 3 points at one point. HOWEVER, it was last minutes of the 4th period that became critical. After listening to the echoes of loud voices all around, cheerleaders having their own little summersault routine wars, and student sections yelling at one another; this game was decided in the last two minutes being tied at 42-42. The Mustangs had put up quite a fight to stay in front. It was Frederick’s guard, #10 AJ Spencer who scored the final basket, leaving the Ridge only 5 seconds to either tie, or hit a long ranged three for the win. I gave Spencer the name Tricky Fingers, because he was creating critical turnovers leading up to these moments. Marriotts Ridge just didn’t see AJ coming at those pivotal times. CONGRATULATIONS to the FREDERICK CADETS, who pulled off an awesome 44-42 victory, and they advanced on to the Semifinal round in states. SO EXCITED FOR YOU CADETS. Keep that flame burning. MUCH LOVE to the MARRIOTTS RIDGE MUSTANGS, you guys played with fire, intensity, and passion. Proud of you guys. You are awesome. MFV MVP - #10 AJ Spencer, 8 points, and the go-ahead basket in the final seconds of the game.

Seven Howard County teams advanced to the second round of regionals this weekend. The first round of regional games started and finished on Friday across all four MPSSAA classes. Four of the remaining Howard County teams used a first-round bye for an extra week of rest before the intensity of the playoffs ramp up. The other three teams prevailed in matchups against rival county teams. All of the Howard County teams are in the 2A and 3A classes. 2A: Glenelg, Hammond, River Hill Hammond holds the second seed in the West II bracket, standing ahead of the other two remaining teams. The Golden Bears pulled off a thrilling midseason comeback this year, posting an 8-4 record in 2026 after ending 2025 with a 45 record. Their opponent in this second round is the River Hill Hawks. 11-10 River Hill took care of business on Friday with a 65-47 win against 1-19 Wilde Lake. The Hawks will now hit the road to take on Hammond. In their last meeting, the Hawks won late and close in a 56-54 game. The Golden Bears and Hawks face off at 6:00 p.m. tonight. Glenelg are on the other wing of the bracket, coming off their upset win against Long Reach. Three weeks ago on Feb. 5, the Lightning comfortably beat Glenelg at Glenelg in a 67-57 game. The Gladiators appeared to have run out of gas with only one win in their prior eleven games. None of those games finished with a margin less than six points. Glenelg stunned everyone with a 68-62 road win to keep their playoff dreams alive. The path for a Gladiators miracle run will only get harder in the regionals’ second round. Their next opponent is a 12-5 Southern team that remained consistent throughout the entire season. Southern has not ceded an upset loss to a team with a lower winning percentage all season. Glenelg will try to become the story of the MPSSAA playoffs at 6:00 p.m. tonight. 3A: Atholton, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills Marriotts Ridge holds the top seed in North II and earned a first-round bye. Their first playoff opponent is a Franklin High School with momentum. They took down Howard in a thrilling 48-46 showdown, continuing their resurrection from an early-season 1-5 record. Marriotts Ridge will host the second round matchup at 6:00 p.m. tonight. South I number one seed Oakland Mills faces 10-11 Sherwood for its first playoff game. Sherwood routed Reservoir in the first round with a final score of 85-47. The Scorpions will look to bounce back from their county championship loss and regain their momentum for the playoffs. The two teams face off tonight at 6:00 p.m. Across the bracket, Atholton will prepare for a cross-country matchup against Mt. Hebron. The Vikings just secured their closest win of the season against Guilford Park, winning 59-58. They are 6-3 in their last nine and facing an Atholton squad that did not lose a single county game at home. Atholton and Mt. Hebron face off at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

Sam Feher 21 points with 3 3s. Leah Lauer played 32 minutes and handled the PG slot with precision.

The final stretch of the basketball season has arrived, with six games to go before the playoffs start. Three Howard County teams are in pursuit of the county’s best record and a neck-and-neck chase for a number one seed. Oakland Mills, Marriotts Ridge and Atholton will spend the next month fighting for that glory, setting up fans to watch high-stakes basketball down the stretch. Here is a breakdown of each team’s path to the best record this season: Oakland Mills: The Scorpions lead the way with a 14-1 record this year and six more games on their schedule. Oakland Mills has been a juggernaut on offense all season. They have played only four games without scoring at least 60 points, winning three of them. The Scorpions deliver late and close too with four wins by one possession. Oakland Mills has the hardest path to keeping possession of the top record. Their remaining strength of schedule is the highest of all the remaining teams at a .507 winning percentage. The Scorpions will only play four unique teams to close the season. They face an improved Guilford Park back-to-back over a three-day span and will also see Glenelg twice. The hardest game left on their calendar is the season finale, facing Atholton for a second time. The Scorpions lost their first matchup 49-25 at home, setting the stage for a potentially crucial matchup for tiebreaker and seeding purposes. Marriotts Ridge: Marriotts Ridge could have tied for the top record, but a cancellation last week keeps them half a game back in the standings. The Mustangs have been an elite force on both sides of the court all season, with a 49-48 loss to Oakland Mills as their only loss. Marriotts Ridge has the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams. However, the .430 winning percentage for the rest of their schedule is somewhat misleading. The Mustangs face strong Baltimore City, Hammond and Mt. Hebron teams over their next three games. That stretch transitions into the easiest part of their schedule all season. The Mustangs close out the season with matchups against Reservoir, Centennial and Wilde Lake. The last two teams combine for a 2-24 record so far this year, reducing the pressure for Marriotts Ridge once the next three games are over. The Mustangs are still in control of their destiny for the top seed. Atholton: Atholton is a dark horse for the county crown at 10-5. They have the slimmest margin for error of any of the three possible teams. The Raiders’ record is far sharper against county opponents, coming in at 10-2 in those matchups. An outlier holiday tournament saw a decline in offense that Atholton turned around immediately in 2026. The Raiders would need both Oakland Mills and Marriotts Ridge to lose at least four of their final games. The only direct influence Atholton can have on that is in their penultimate game, facing Oakland Mills. Atholton’s remaining strength of schedule has a .500 winning percentage that creates a challenging path since they can only afford one loss. The Raiders will need to win their rematch against Guilford Park, which beat them 56-48 a month ago, and a season sweep of Oakland Mills. The Raiders’ standout season will still deliver a top playoff seed, but the Raiders could sneak their way to the top of the county.

After hammonds 0-10 run ridge fought back with defensive play and team effort on offense

Hard fought defensive game. Marriotts ridge pulled away with 2 minutes to go.

River Hill won one of the biggest upsets this season on Friday in a game against Marriotts Ridge. The Hawks entered the day on a six-game losing streak, dating back to Dec. 12 against City. Marriotts Ridge built momentum this month with two strong wins against Long Reach and Edmondson-Westside, winning both by margins of at least two possessions. River Hill’s 47-46 win continued a now nine-year winning streak against Marriotts Ridge. The Mustangs last won this rivalry matchup on Dec. 12, 2017. Both teams played evenly throughout the game with only one key differentiator. The Hawks and Mustangs shot identically from beyond the arc at 31% and posted roughly even field goal percentages at 40% and 36%, respectively. After an even first half, River Hill looked to pull away with a comfortable 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, going up 32 to 21. Olivia Creighton ‘28 used her speed and three-point shooting to build up that cushion with a key performance in the win. Marriotts Ridge chipped away from the Hawks’ lead and pulled within two points in the fourth quarter. Back-and-forth basketball, mirroring the first half of the game, took over and the Mustangs protected a late 45-42 lead in the fourth quarter. Creighton played hero again as the game came to a close, sinking a game tying three point shot before River Hill sealed the win with a block from Fiona Devine ‘28. River Hill’s offense has particularly turned a corner in January. The Hawks have three of their four highest scoring games this month with 39 against Howard, 48 against Long Reach and 47 against Marriotts Ridge. Their previous season high of 40 came against Atholton on Dec. 10. River Hill returns home on Saturday to take on 9-1 Stephen Decatur and 4-8 Hammond on Monday. The Hawks will play the Golden Bears twice this month, with an opportunity to boost themselves up in the standings. Their February slate includes five games at home with only one on the road, creating a path for a late-season surge if the offensive improvements can hold. Marriotts Ridge has one more home game, facing Glenelg, before a three-game road trip that starts against Hammond. The Hawks and Mustangs will see each other again soon at River Hill on Feb. 2.

On Friday January 16 2026 Howard County had their 2026 Indoor Track County Championship. The River Hills Girls team became 2026 girls county champions. Oakland Mills was second place and Reservoir was third place. Relays: River Hill’s girls 4x800 became county champions. A. Mattes, N. Mohan, L. Virmani, and M. Virmani were the runners in this relay. Oaklands Mill’s girls 4x200 became county champions. R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, P. Buchanan, and G. Osei-Bonsu were the runners in this relay. Oakland Mill’s girls 4x400 became county champions. R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, R. Martinez Romero,and P. Buchanan were the runners in this relay. Additionally they set a new meet record!. This means this team was the fastest in all Howard County indoor championship history. Individual Running Events: Kendall Hall from Long Reach became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 300m. She ran a 39.89, which is a new personal record for her. Additionally she is now the new 9th place girls 300m runner in Maryland and the United States 46th place. On top of that she set a new meet record! This was a great race for her. Marella Virmani from River Hill became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 1600m. Payton Buchanan from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 500m. She ran a 1:16.74, which is a new personal record for her. She set a new meet record! This means this is the fastest time run in this event at this meet. Additionally she is the new fifth place in Maryland and 33rd place in the United States. Ava Carr from Howard became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 55m hurdles. She ran a 8.52, which is a new personal record for her. She is now the new 15th place in Maryland and 89th place in the United States for this event. Jaidyn Augustine from Marriotts Ridge became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 55m. She became the new 17th place in Maryland and 94th place in the United States for this event. Lauren Virmani from River Hill became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 3200m. Marella Virmani from River Hill became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls 800m. Field Events: Ava Carr from Howard became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls high jump. Ruqqayyat Gobir from Howard became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls triple jump. Manuela Dabiri from Glenelg became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls shot put. She is the new 6th place in Maryland for this event. Hannah McDerment from Reservoir became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls pole vault. She vaulted 10-03.00, which is a personal record for her. Additionally she became the new 12th place in Maryland for this event. Rozelyn Sarfo from Oakland Mills became a 2026 indoor county champion in the girls long jump. She became the new 5th place in Maryland and the new 64th place in the United States for this event. Please note titles such as __ place in Maryland/United States are subject to change as more meets happen across Maryland and the United States.

1.Oakland Mills 2.Marriotts Ridge 3.Atholton 4.Long Reach 5.Hammond Hammond is trending up after a 2–1 January start and faces Reservoir and Howard with a chance at their first winning record since Dec. 17th! 🏀

Tied at half mustangs shut down long view. Katie leader 19 pts. Katie Moraz 11 rebounds. Holding opponent again under 40. 45-39 win

Howard County basketball returns next week with most teams still in the mix for county glory. For this CSZ midseason check-in, we looked at what each school’s main goal should be for 2026. Note: The listed records are only for games against other Howard County teams. 1. Reservoir (4-0) New Year’s Resolution: Do more of the same The Gators are the best team in the county so far. Their offense is playing at an elite level in each game and the defense matches with a stifling presence. Their closest county game ended in an eight-point win, marking the only time Reservoir did not outscore opponents by at least 17. No team has commanded the court like the Gators and that dominance should extend into the rest of the season. Next up: vs River Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 7 2. Oakland Mills (5-0) New Year’s Resolution: Get ready to hit the road The Scorpions boast the best county record and fully earned that spot. The team has played in sync all season so far, with no signs of slowing down. January will be a tougher challenge for this Oakland Mills squad. Nine of their 13 games for the rest of the season are on the road. Five of their eight January games will be away from Scorpions fans, including matchups against Mt. Hebron and Reservoir. Next up: vs Wilde Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 7 3. Glenelg (4-0) New Year’s Resolution: Stay resilient on the road The Gladiators are the last of the three undefeated teams in county games. Glenelg has comfortably handled its early schedule, which included three road games against rival schools and five total. The road trips will continue through early July, with four in their next six matchups. Staying strong in the next few weeks will set the Gladiators up well for the playoff push, where they play seven games at home in their final nine. Next up: vs Glenelg Country School on Monday, January 5 4. Wilde Lake (5-1) New Year’s Resolution: Give the defense more room to breathe The Wildecats firmly sit in the county’s top tier with a strong December performance. They have limited opposing teams to fewer than 45 points in five of their games. The only outlier, coming against Glenelg, stands as their lone county loss. While Wilde Lake is still playing at an elite level, an offensive step forward could be the missing piece to leapfrog the three teams ranked higher. Their last two county games showed greater separation, with a 20-point win over Atholton and a 12-point win over Mt. Hebron. Next up: at Oakland Mills on Wednesday, Jan. 7 5. Marriotts Ridge (4-3) New Year’s Resolution: Increase possession quality Mustang basketball has been a flashback to a lower-scoring era of high school basketball. The Marriotts Ridge defense has excelled, allowing 40 or fewer points in six of their seven county games. The offense has only surpassed 40 in two of those games and the team won both. With points in short supply, the Mustangs could become a juggernaut with a slightly sharper offense, reducing their need to come through in close games. Next up: vs. Long Reach on Friday, Jan. 9 6. Howard (3-2) New Year’s Resolution: Stay on track The Lions rebounded from a close 52-48 loss to Oakland Mills with three wins in their next four county games. Howard’s offense is leading the way with 45 points in every game and wins each time they score 50. The defense has given the team enough to win and their team formula has provided plenty of momentum for the rest of the season. Next up: at Garrison Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 7 7. Mt. Hebron (4-3) New Year’s Resolution: Shrink the margins against the county’s best The Vikings almost exclusively traded off wins and losses through December. The offense and defense have been consistently solid. Mt. Hebron has handled business against the lowest teams in the standings but has struggled against the top squads. Their -21 point differential against Marriotts Ridge, Glenelg and Wilde Lake is a stark contrast to their +74 in their other games. Playing closer in those matchups is the first step in taking a seat at the top. Next up: vs Atholton on Wednesday, Jan. 7 8. Guilford Park (1-3) New Year’s Resolution: Sustain the holiday momentum The Panthers already matched their county win total from last season with a 48-32 win against Long Reach. While the other games have not gone their way, Guilford Park picked up wins against Green Street and Frederick Douglass last weekend. The team could make school history by securing its first January win in program history. Next up: at Hammond on Monday, Jan. 5 9. Hammond (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Raise the floor The Golden Bears’ 2025-2026 season has been one of a split identity through December. Hammond had a season-best 62-55 win against Atholton before scoring 34 total points across their final two games. They have a +12 point differential in their wins, including a non-county game, and a -104 point differential in their losses. Closing those margins against the county’s best can create more opportunities to keep the pressure on opponents and find ways to win. Next up: vs Guilford Park on Monday, Jan. 5 10. River Hill (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Tighten the defense The Hawks are undefeated when they hold opposing teams to 45 points or less. They have only accomplished that score in one county game and one non-county game. Barring a sudden offensive turnaround, the Hawks will need to lean into a defense that has given the team chances to get more wins. Next up: vs Reservoir on Wednesday, Jan. 7 11. Centennial (1-5) New Year’s Resolution: Revamp the offense The Eagles have performed at an untenable offensive level so far, which has been the defining factor of their season. They have reached 30 points in two of their games. The defense has performed solidly, holding Glenelg to 40 and Marriotts Ridge to 31. Getting games closer will be a key step in a Centennial season turnaround. Next up: vs Long Reach on Monday, Jan. 5 12. Long Reach (0-4) New Year’s Resolution: Improve in-county play The Lightning have exclusively taken care of teams beyond the Howard borders. Against DC International and Meade, Long Reach had their two highest scoring games and their two sharpest defensive efforts. Finding ways to bring that level of play against their rivals will be the only way that the Lightning can climb the standings. Next up: at Centennial on Monday, Jan. 5 13. Atholton (0-4) New Year’s Resolution: Take a page from last season’s book The Raiders struggled in December and stand as one of two teams without a win against a county opponent. They will need better play from the offense and from the defense if their season is to turn around. The 2024-2025 team, which lost its final three games in December before coming back from winter break with a commanding 80-54 win, could be a good source of inspiration. Next up: at Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, Jan. 7

Howard County basketball returns next week with most teams still in the mix for county glory. For this CSZ midseason check-in, we looked at what each school’s main goal should be for 2026. Note: The listed records are only for games against other Howard County teams. 1. Oakland Mills (5-0) New Year’s Resolution: Generate more offense The Scorpions are the last undefeated team in the county, earning that spot with a close 49-48 win against Marriotts Ridge. Oakland Mills will need more point separation to stay at the top of the standings. Most of their games have been within two possessions, including two very close wins against Long Reach and Marriotts Ridge. On an individual level, Daniel Ndiritu ‘27 became the first player to score 20 points this season for the Scorpions, reaching that mark in the final game of the year. Next up: vs Catonsville on Monday, Jan. 5 2. Marriotts Ridge (6-1) New Year’s Resolution: Stay on track The Mustangs are off to a nearly flawless start this season. They have scored 65+ points in six of their seven games and allowed fewer than 55 in five of those games. Marriotts Ridge closed out the year on a particularly high note, reaching a season high of 81 points scored against Reservoir. Next up: vs. Howard on Wednesday, Jan. 7 3. River Hill (5-2) New Year’s Resolution: Win on Wednesdays The Hawks have evened out after a strong 2-0 start against Hammond and Wilde Lake. A tougher schedule has contributed to a 3-3 record in their last six games, but River Hill has developed a clear split based on game time. The Hawks have not won a Wednesday game since Feb. 7, 2024, dropping the last eight across three seasons. River Hill’s four remaining midweek games could determine the fate of their season. Next up: at Reservoir on Wednesday, Jan. 7 4. Mt. Hebron (5-2) New Year’s Resolution: Enjoy being at home The Vikings opened the season with a challenging gauntlet, playing five of their first seven games on the road. Mt. Hebron pushed through and won four of those five. They have six more road games this season, but the final stretch of the season is almost exclusively on their home court, with four games in February as the playoff push intensifies. Next up: at Atholton on Wednesday, Jan. 7 5. Atholton (3-1) New Year’s Resolution: Trust the defense Atholton plays a unique brand of basketball compared to the rest of the county. The Raiders’ defense-first approach has singlehandedly brought their best county start in years. They have allowed an average of fewer than 50 points per game, including just 32 against River Hill. Before this season, they had not won three of their first four county games since 2022. Facing Marriotts Ridge and River Hill proved that this style of play can propel the Raiders into contention. Next up: vs Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, Jan. 7 6. Long Reach (3-2) New Year’s Resolution: Keep up the momentum The Lightning closed out the year on a high note with considerable improvement from last season. A 0-2 start looked like more of the same before a three-game winning streak provided a sharp turnaround. For reference, Long Reach did not have three county wins last season until Valentine’s Day. Next up: vs Centennial on Monday, Jan. 5 7. Reservoir (2-3) New Year’s Resolution: Forget the Marriotts Ridge game The Gators have hovered around .500 all season, with their longest winning streak standing at one game. For the most part, Reservoir has played solid basketball with a good defense and an inconsistent offense. The only outlier came in the final game of the year against Marriotts Ridge, where the team allowed 81 points to the Mustangs. Staying the course can keep the Gators toward the middle of the standings. Next up: vs River Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 7 8. Glenelg (2-2) New Year’s Resolution: Look for more synergy The Gladiators played fewer games than most county teams after a game against Oakland Mills was canceled. With four county games recorded, Glenelg has flashed the pieces needed for contention, but has not been able to consistently put them together yet. They did end the year with everything working in the year’s final game, beating Centennial 55-52. Next up: vs Guilford Park on Wednesday, Jan. 7 9. Hammond (2-4) New Year’s Resolution: Rediscover their offense The Golden Bears spent the first half of December playing well on both sides of the court. They took care of games against Glenelg and Wilde Lake before their season took a turn as the schedule grew more challenging. Games against Mt. Hebron and Oakland Mills closed the year in a slide that came down to the offense’s decline. In their last three county games, Hammond lost each and failed to score 55 points in all of them. Changing that will be their top priority for 2026. Next up: at Guilford Park on Monday, Jan. 5 10. Centennial (1-5) New Year’s Resolution: Trust the process The Eagles’ record is not yet indicative of their performance this season. They lost to River Hill and Marriotts Ridge, but their other games showed a team that should be better than 1-5. In two-possession or fewer games, Centennial has a 1-4 record, with the only win coming in the season opener against Reservoir. The Eagles should see more wins if they can continue to play close and wait for more late-game breakthroughs. Next up: at Long Reach on Monday, Jan. 5 11. Guilford Park (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Tighten the defense The Panthers recorded their first December win in program history against Howard on Dec. 15. Outside of that game, the Guilford Park offense has performed well, but the defense has still not clicked. Against county opponents, they have averaged 59 points scored per game. Their win against Howard was the only time that they did not allow 55 points in a county game. Next up: vs Hammond on Monday, Jan. 5 12. Howard (1-4) New Year’s Resolution: Improve in-county scoring The Lions have stepped back so far after their strong performance last year. The offense has not recorded 50 points against a county team once this season and the team’s success is almost exclusively against other schools. Their two best wins came against Crossland and Winters Mill, which were two of their last three games. A Lions’ turnaround this season will only be possible if they can bring that offense to their 12 remaining games in the county. Next up: at Marriotts Ridge on Wednesday, Jan. 7 13. Wilde Lake (0-6) New Year’s Resolution: Turn the page on 2025 The Wildecats have not performed as many would have expected this season, following an 18-win campaign last year. Wilde Lake needs improvement offensively and defensively in 2026. Finding their first win quickly could be the spark this team needs to get back on track for the rest of the season. Next up: vs Oakland Mills on Wednesday, Jan. 7

Blythe Pietryka career high 19 points

Marriotts Ridge became the county’s second five-win team on Friday. The Mustangs’ 5-1 start is the school’s best since opening the 2021 season with a seven-game winning streak. They hosted the Guilford Park Panthers and secured a close 67-64 win. Marriotts Ridge took an early lead after the first quarter and held on to stay undefeated all-time against Guilford Park. The Mustangs continued their trend of controlling the first half of games. They outscored Guilford Park 16-9 in the first quarter and 20-15 in the second. On the season, Marriotts Ridge has a +72 point differential with just under 200 points scored. The Panthers pulled their way back into the game because of a late fourth-quarter surge to put pressure on Marriotts Ridge. They had 25 points to the Mustangs’ 11 in the largest difference across all four quarters. Marriotts Ridge has now been outscored in the fourth quarter in half of its games. The Mustangs will need to extend their first-half success to effectively close out games if they want to stay atop the county standings. Before the season, Coach Seth Willingham highlighted Blake Willingham and Aaron Hammann as players to watch for this season. Those two have led the Mustangs to a top record in the county and created momentum to close out the year, Blake Willingham led the team with a career high of 24 points scored. He thrived from the three-point line, going 7-14 in a season high in attempts. The junior has now shot at least 50% from three in half of the Mustangs’ games. Aaron Hammann recorded his fourth double-double of the season. The senior scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds. Hammann has already taken a considerable step forward this season. His defense has been a key factor in Marriotts Ridge's early success. The team has not lost when he picked up at least five defensive rebounds in a game. His 65 rebounds this year are already ahead of his 2024 pace by 38. The Mustangs will face Reservoir for their final game in December. The Gators currently sport a middle-of-the-pack record at 2-3 but should see better results soon. Reservoir has a +12 point differential and they lost two one-possession games. They just played their best game of the season last week in a 61-45 win over Howard. The Gators have recent success on the road against the Mustangs with two wins in the three games since 2022. Marriotts Ridge and Reservoir will tip off at 5:30 p.m. tonight.

On December 8th 2025 Howard County had their first indoor track meet for the 2026 season. Here are the top 3 athletes in each event. RUNNING EVENTS: Girls 55m (out of 100) Jaidyn Augustine Marriotts Ridge 7.35 Rozelyn Sarfo Oakland Mills 7.39 (7.385) Dara Akinsanya Reservoir 7.39 (7.386) PR Girls 55m Hurdles (out of 11) Patience Oyamo Guilford Park 9.03 Julia Irvin Howard 9.18 PR Sarah Opara-Murambiwa Hammond 9.33 Girls 300m (out of 68) Kendall Hall Long Reach 40.76 Eniya Headspeth Centennial 41.43 Payton Buchanan Oakland Mills 41.65 PR Girls 500m (out of 26) Payton Buchanan Oakland Mills 1:22.14 Tiffany Berry Wilde Lake 1:24.80 PR Cate Staley Glenelg 1:24.81 Girls 1600m (out of 41) Marella Virmani River Hill 5:20.08 Lauren Virmani River Hill 5:20.13 Olivia Alvarez Atholton 5:51.75 Girls 3200m (out of 11) Izabella McDonald Guilford Park 12:07.72 Eleanor Zadora-Smierciak Howard 12:18.93 Johanna Ortega Guilford Park 12:39.09 Girls 800m (out of 39) Alyssa Mattes River Hill 2:27.79 Izabella McDonald Guilford Park 2:29.67 Charleigh Logan Guilford Park 2:34.29 Girls 4x400m (out of 10) Centennial J. Franklin, L. Crawford, J. James, E. Headspeth River Hill 4:13.29 L. Virmani, L. Schoenberg-Grevbo, N. Mohan, M. Virmani Oakland Mills 4:26.41 G. Osei-Bonsu, K. Robinson, R. Martinez Romero, R. Oyedeji Girls 4x200m (out of 25) Hammond 1:48.23 N. Butler, J. Krause, S. Opara-Murambiwa, I. Woodward Long Reach 1:49.78 K. Hall, T. Flynn, A. Norton, P. Pittman Guilford Park 1:53.07 M. Mbullu, K. Alford, A. Igbinovia, G. Hart Girls 4x800m (out of 6) River Hill 9:28.30 L. Virmani, A. Mattes, N. Mohan, M. Virmani Glenelg 10:04.03 S. Clark Guilford Park 10:36.72 C. Logan, L. Eastman, J. Ortega, I. McDonald FIELD EVENTS Girls High Jump (out of 9) Patience Oyamo Guilford Park 5-00.00 Madison Xokoli Reservoir 4-08.00 Janelle Laughner Reservoir 4-08.00 PR Girls Pole Vault(out of 12) Hannah McDerment Reservoir 8-06.00 Isabella F. Hagan Marriotts Ridge 8-06.00 PR Shea O'Brien Reservoir 8-00.00 Girls Triple Jump (out of 9) Jaidyn Augustine Marriotts Ridge 36-07.50 PR Ruqqayyat Gobir Howard 34-11.25 Tayden White Howard 31-10.75 Girls Shot Put (out of 29) Hannah McDerment Reservoir 30-06.00 Imani Smith Howard 29-07.25 Manuela Dabiri Glenelg 29-02.00 Girls Long Jump (out of 24) Jaidyn Augustine Marriotts Ridge 17-00.00 Nyia Bedell Howard 16-09.00 Jasmine Alston Reservoir 15-06.50 Congratulations to all these top athletes! Keep an eye on these girls as they progress through the indoor and the upcoming outdoor season.

On December 8th 2025 Howard County had their first indoor track meet for the 2026 season. 1 Guilford Park-78 2 Oakland Mills-77.5 3 Reservoir-75 4 Howard-68.5 5 River Hill-67 6 Marriotts Ridge-45 7 Centennial-36 7 Glenelg-36 9 Hammond-32 10 Wilde Lake-21 11 Long Reach-19 12 Atholton-15 13 Mount Hebron-11 GP: Junior Patience Oyamo won both the 55m hurdles (9.03) and the women's high jump (5 ft). In both events she earned 10 points for a total of 20 points for GP. In the 55m Giovanna Hart came in sixth place running 7.62s and earned 3 points. Kaitlyn Alford came in eighth place running 7.67s and earning 1 point. In the 800m Izabella McDonald (2nd,2:29.67, 8pts) and Charleigh Logan (3rd,2:34.29,6pts) For a total of 14 points for GP. With several other amazing athletes earning points from Gilford Park they have cemented themselves as a competitive group for the rest of the indoor track season! OM: Oakland Mills like usual were an extremely competitive group this first meet. Rozelyn Sarfo was second in the 55m with a time of 2.39s winning 8 points for Oakland she also was fourth in the 300m running 41.95s winning 5 points with a total of 13 points from her. Payton Buchanan was third in the 300m with a PR of 41.65 earning 6 points. She won 1st place in the 500m running 1:22.14 earning 10 points. Jordyn Harriston came in fourth for the 55m running 7.44s and earning 5 points. In the 55m hurdles she came in fifth running 9.90 earning 4pts. Lastly in the 300m she was fifth place running 42.53s and earning 4 points for OM. Oakland Mills has many great athletes who will continue to shine throughout the season! Resi: Reservoir came in third and notably did amazing in their field events. Senior Hannah McDerment won 1st in shot put throwing 30-06.00 and earning 10 points additionally she won 1st in pole vault clearing 8-06.00 earning 10 points for 20 points in total. In pole vault Shea O'Brien was third place clearing 8 feet earning 6 points. Joanna Manela also cleared 8 feet and earned 5 points. In high jump Madison Xokoli cleared 4 foot 8 inches she came in second place and earned 8 points. Janelle Laughner also cleared 4 foot 8 inches she came in third place earning 6 points. In long jump Jasmine Alston was third place jumping 15-06.50 earning 6 points and Janelle Laughner came in fourth place jumping 14-07.25 earning 5 points. In the 55m Dara Akinsanya was third place, running 7.39 and earning 6 points. Keep a tab on these amazing field competitors as well as the runners from Resi! Congratulations to all the runners who competed during this meet!

Howard County high school basketball teams will not have full-time athletic trainers this season. The approved county budget did not include new trainers on the staff list. A previous draft from March created 13 full-time positions, adding one to each of the county’s high schools. Malcolm Tatum, the head coach for the Guilford Park High School boys’ basketball team, criticized county lawmakers for leaving his staff and players shorthanded again this year. “There is a big concern with the lack of trainers in Howard County. I don’t blame the trainers because they aren’t compensated the way they should be. But the increase in injuries and the prolonging of the injuries are because of the lack of trainers,” Tatum said. The second year coach played college basketball for Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia from 2013 to 2016. He credited his success to the training staff at his high school. “When I played in high school, we had a full-time trainer in the building most of the day. I believe that should be brought back to Howard County,” Tatum said. The Howard County Board of Education elected to keep the school system’s current model, contracting seven part-time trainers from Pivot Physical Therapy to split duties at the 13 schools. A Pivot representative declined to specify how often each trainer appeared. The 2026 operating budget approved $1.8 million in salaries for student health services in high school sports. That money did not include any personnel additions for trainers. The Howard County Board of Education office said the members had no comment. Boys’ basketball coach Seth Willingham had more time to adjust to a lack of athletic staffing at Marriotts Ridge High School. He described the abundance of player injuries as a distraction for the faculty. “We have not had a trainer at our school for three years. So coaches are left treating athletes, taping athletes, etc. It is very difficult to manage and takes away from coaching at times. Not only am I helping my players, but often other athletes from teams at our school because some of the coaches are not in the building,” Willingham said. Willingham heard about a junior varsity basketball player at Marriotts Ridge collapsing last season. The player hit their head and fell on the court. No athletic trainer attended the game, so coaches had to call for an ambulance, fearing a severe injury. Hammond High School boys’ basketball coach Kyle Duffie worried that student-athletes would not find as much success in collegiate athletics without greater access to trainers. Glenelg High School girls’ basketball coach Maureen Roberson saw her players struggle to get ready to compete. “We need athletic trainers in every high school. I am concerned about the lack of athletic trainers. Players like to see athletic trainers before games, but there’s no one for them to see,” Roberson said. One Howard County basketball coach did not express any issues with athletic trainer coverage. Oakland Mills High School girls’ basketball coach Michael Coughlan had no problems at home games or during practices. “We are fortunate that we have a great four day a week trainer,” Coughlan said. Ryan Hudy, the new boys’ basketball coach at Reservoir High School, viewed the lack of trainers as his toughest challenge so far. He disagreed with the county’s approach to student-athlete safety. “I came from Montgomery County, where one trainer was assigned to every school full-time. Now I’m at a situation where we have been practicing or trying out for 13 days and I have seen our part-time trainer two times,” Hudy said. The Reservoir roster already acquired various preseason injuries, including a possible concussion, multiple rolled ankles and a sprained thumb. Hudy wanted to see more urgency from county leaders. “It’s a reactive approach, just waiting for something bad to happen and then the decision will be made to have each of the 13 high schools have a trainer. Instead of doing it now and being proactive,” Hudy said.

Here are CSZ's rankings of all 13 Howard County Girls' Varsity Basketball teams for this season. Each team's 2024-2025 record is included inside the parentheses. 1. Oakland Mills (17-2) The Scorpions enter 2025 after their first championship appearance since 1991. They had a 21-1 record against county rivals and scored 45 points in all of the wins. Coach Michael Coughlan said he hopes that this year’s team will have a “stifling half-court defense and up-tempo fast-paced offense.” Oakland Mills’ path to another title starts on Friday vs Reservoir. 2. Reservoir (18-3) The Gators improved by six wins last season, leading as a team at the top of the county. They beat every other team except Oakland Mills. Reservoir earned two playoff wins, including an 81-9 victory. Their season starts today against Richard Montgomery. 3. Howard (15-4) The Lions advanced the furthest in the playoffs outside of Oakland Mills. They picked up strong wins against Glenelg and Mt. Hebron but otherwise struggled against the county’s best, including two losses to River Hill. Howard’s first game is against Mt. Hebron on Friday. 4. River Hill (15-6) The Hawks got off to the best start in the county last year, winning ten of their first eleven games. Their offense scored 49 points in all of those wins, but they only reached that mark in two of their final ten games. River Hill will look to keep its elite level throughout the whole season, starting today against Urbana. 5. Mt. Hebron (12-8) The Vikings played up and down throughout 2024. They went 5-1 to start the season, 4-7 in the middle of the winter and won their final three games. Mt. Hebron made a deeper playoff push with wins against Old Mill Senior and Chesapeake. Their season starts against Howard on Friday. 6. Wilde Lake (8-10) The Wildecats made the biggest improvements of any county team last season. They won eight games after recording a 2-39 record between 2022 and 2023. That momentum carried into two playoff wins, advancing to the state tournament. Wilde Lake opens its season against Meade tomorrow. 7. Glenelg (10-12) The Gladiators returned to double-digit wins last year after a down 2023. Glenelg performed well offensively, but the defense played more inconsistently. They had a 3-9 record when they allowed 40 points. Glenelg will face Century on Friday for the season opener. 8. Atholton (9-11) The Raiders picked up a playoff win last year for the first time since 2022. They played evenly throughout the season and did not have luck on their side, losing four games by one possession. Atholton’s first game of the season will come against Century tomorrow. 9. Centennial (7-11) The Eagles surged last year with an exciting run to the second round of the playoffs. After falling to a 2-8 record on Jan. 24, Centennial rallied to a 5-3 record to close the year, despite five straight games on the road in that span, and earned a playoff win against Long Reach. The Eagles will make their season debut tomorrow, facing Walkersville. 10. Hammond (9-10) The Golden Bears reached a season-best 7-5 record last year on Jan. 31. They took a step back in February with a 2-5 record that sank them under .500. Hammond will look for increased stamina at the end of the season this year. Their first game is on Friday at River Hill. 11. Long Reach (7-13) The Lightning improved by five wins last year in their best performance since 2018. They hung around .500 for most of the season before a late losing streak brought the record down. Long Reach went 4-3 in December, 2-5 in January and 1-6 in February. They will try to find more consistency this season, starting on Friday against Atholton. 12. Marriotts Ridge (3-17) The Mustangs snapped a 14-game losing streak last season, which dated back to Jan. 26, 2024. Their season highlight came in a 33-32 win over 9-11 Atholton. Marriotts Ridge will look for offensive improvement this season after reaching 30 points in five of their 21 games. That could come as early as tomorrow against Catonsville. 13. Guilford Park (1-17) The Panthers had a challenging debut season last year. They had one win on Dec. 9, 2024, against Marriotts Ridge. The season unravelled after that point, ending in a 17-game losing streak. Guilford Park will look for its first home win this Friday against Centennial.

Here are CSZ's rankings of all 13 Howard County Boys' Varsity Basketball teams for this season. Each team's 2024-2025 record is included inside the parentheses. 1. Mt. Hebron (20-2) The Vikings firmly led the county last year with the deepest playoff run and the most wins. An outlier in the season opener did not stall their dominance, giving way to a 20-1 run and playoff victories over Chesapeake and Marriotts Ridge. Mt. Hebron’s season will open on Friday against Howard. 2. Marriotts Ridge (15-7) Marriotts Ridge enjoyed another strong season last year with momentum for 2025. They will try to get past Mt. Hebron after three losses in 2024. Coach Seth Willingham said fans should have high expectations again because of a “tough man defense and uptempo fast paced offense with multiple scoring options.” Marriotts Ridge starts its season against Wilde Lake on Friday. 3. Wilde Lake (18-5) The Wildecats powered their way to 18 wins with remarkable consistency. Interestingly, four of their losses came at home. They also had a close home loss to Southern in the first round of the playoffs. They will try to earn their first playoff win since 2022 this year. Wilde Lake opens its season against Marriotts Ridge on Friday. 4. Howard (15-6) The Lions took a big step forward last year with their best start in five years. They burst out to a 10-1 record before dealing with midseason adversity. Howard battled through and ended the season on a high note, carrying their strong offense into the playoffs. Howard will try to push their way further this year, starting with a key test against Mt. Hebron on Friday 5. Atholton (11-8) The Raiders used a late-season surge to go on a playoff run last year. They hovered around .500 through the middle of January before winning five of their last eight games. Postseason wins against Long Reach and Centennial highlighted their strong season. Atholton basketball returns on Friday against Long Reach. 6. Centennial (12-9) The Eagles tied Mt. Hebron for the best start in the county last season. They had an 11-1 record before things rapidly changed. They closed the year 1-8 and lost to Atholton in the second round of the playoffs. Centennial will try to put two strong halves of basketball together this year, opening their season against Guilford Park on Friday. 7. Hammond (8-12) The Golden Bears have serious momentum entering the season. They rebounded from a 2-10 start to win six of their last eight. Coach Kyle Duffie said that Hammond fans should expect a “hard nosed, fast and fun style of play” this season. Their journey starts on Friday against River Hill. 8. Reservoir (8-13) The Gators made significant improvements last season. They played hot-and-cold basketball all winter but picked up steam as they went. They beat High Point in the first round of the playoffs 79-37. With an all-new starting five, Reservoir will take on Centennial on Dec. 8. 9. Glenelg (8-12) The Gladiators battled through adversity in the first half of the 2024 season. They reached a season-best 7-5 record on Jan. 31 with a chance of securing a strong playoff seed. February became a struggle as the team went 1-7 before losing in the first round to Marriotts Ridge. Glenelg will try to find more stamina this year, starting on Friday against Century. 10. Oakland Mills (6-14) The Scorpions picked up a playoff win against Guilford Park last season. They rebounded from a 1-9 start and won three of their last four games, securing a better record than in 2023. Oakland Mills will face Howard on Dec. 8 for their first game. 11. Long Reach (5-17) The Lightning finish ahead of River Hill on this list because they beat the Hawks in the playoffs last year. They will try to return to the program that won 19 games in 2023 and prove 2024 is an outlier. Long Reach will face Atholton on Friday in a playoff rematch from last season. 12. River Hill (7-14) The Hawks struggled to maintain consistency last season. After posting a 3-3 record in December 2024, they lost 11 of their final 14 games. Their season starts on Friday against Hammond. 13. Guilford Park (5-17) The Panthers had a challenging debut season last year. They lost their first 11 games but rebounded to win five of their next eight. Their season ended in a four-game losing streak. Guilford Park will open their season this Friday against Centennial.